Southern Mississippi deputy shoots man armed with pistol

LATIMER, Miss. (AP) — A southern Mississippi man is hospitalized after he called the sheriff's office, brandished a pistol at deputies and was shot multiple times when he refused to drop the gun, authorities said.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said in a new release that his office received a call from an irate male around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. He says the caller identified himself as Robert Baker of the Latimer community.

"Dispatchers could hear what appeared to be arguing and fighting over the phone line after the irate male dropped the telephone," the sheriff said in a statement.

"Deputies gave Baker numerous commands to put the weapon down," Ezell said in a statement. "The suspect refused to relinquish the weapon or obey deputies' commands.

"He pointed it at the officer in an aggressive manner," Ezell said, "and the deputy shot him."

Ezell said Baker suffered wounds to the arm, the abdomen and the groin. Sheriff's Capt. Curtis Spiers said the man underwent surgery at Ocean Springs Hospital. The man's condition is not known. Ezell said he is expected to recover.

The man who was shot is white. Authorities haven't given the race of the deputies.

Ezell said the deputy who shot Baker has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.